Gold Dollar razors

[Seraphim]

It is my opinion that Gold Dollar is the original manufacturer of the Double Arrow, and that Double Arrow is simply the name given to the GD by an intermediary export company (that I can no longer locate the website for...). that is why an astute SRP member was able to read the Chinese characters inside the Double Arrow scales that clearl;y said "Gold Dollar". And so here we are. I can tell you, that there is no discernable difference between GDs and DAs.

Here is a glimpse into the mysterious world of Gold Dollar manufacturing:

 

[Seraphim]

And the coveted, and oh so rare Gold Dollar 200:

For the man who is not afraid to show the world "Hey, I shave with a Gold Dollar! You gonna make sumthin' of it, Bub?!"

Note the deep full blade etch, and the more refined grind to the body of the blade.....jimps, top & bottom....

Yes, this is the razor that causes master grinders in Solingen to lay awake at night in a cold sweat....

 

[keenedge]

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[The Knize]

Wow, that is great stuff. Does this mean that GD is about to unloose a bunch of good quality, affordable straights on the US market?

I had heard that the requirement to buy in large quantities had always held foliks off from buying wholesale and reselling.

I have always liked my DA and still use use it fairly frequently.

 

[Seraphim]

Wow, that is great stuff. Does this mean that GD is about to unloose a bunch of good quality, affordable straights on the US market?

I had heard that the requirement to buy in large quantities had always held foliks off from buying wholesale and reselling.

I have always liked my DA and still use use it fairly frequently.

Um, well, you can always buy them through Kenrup, if that's what you mean by "unloosing".....

 

[The Knize]

Um, well, you can always buy them through Kenrup, if that's what you mean by "unloosing".....

Or maybe you, based on the GD 300 you recently sold at BST. I liked the scales on that better than Ken R's heart of oak scales, but having different scales that what they used to have it is a big plus.

I notice that stamps222 is putting one at a time up on ebay, in the old configuraton.

 

[SavantStrike]

The only question is, do you still have to take a vice to them to make them straight, or did they finally stop making them with warped blades .

If the answer is that the blades are now straight, then I take it they may have also raised the price to reflect this new quality?

 

[Seraphim]

The only question is, do you still have to take a vice to them to make them straight, or did they finally stop making them with warped blades .

If the answer is that the blades are now straight, then I take it they may have also raised the price to reflect this new quality?

As I said above, they are in no way discernable from the Double Arrows.....

The model pictured above also does cost more.

 

[SavantStrike]

As I said above, they are in no way discernable from the Double Arrows.....

The model pictured above also does cost more.

So technically they cost more than just a little more, as the labor is the same and the price has elevated

 

[Seraphim]

So technically they cost more than just a little more, as the labor is the same and the price has elevated

No, the model 200, pictured above is actually nicer. The blade has closer to a mirror finish, the blade etching is pretty nice, top & bottom jimps feel good.

Issues with bent tangs don't seeem to matter if you keep them in the scales they come in, only if you re-scale them does that seem to become an issue.

 

[The Knize]

Just for clarity, the "warped blades" "issue" was really a "bent tangs" issue (and certainly not present on all DAs).

Various manufactuers at various price levels have had warping problems of the actual blade as I understand it, which makes for some interesting honing issues to say the least, but that is not what is being references here. Here is it is whether the tang lines up precisely with the spine/edge part of the blade. Not the same level of problem, if I understand things correction. Kindly correct me if I am off base. I could be.

 

[Seraphim]

Just for clarity, the "warped blades" "issue" was really a "bent tangs" issue (and certainly not present on all DAs).

Various manufactuers at various price levels have had warpable problems of the actual blade as I understand it, which makes for some interesting honing issues to say the least, but that is not what is being references here. Here is it is whether the tang lines up precisely with the spine/edge part of the blade. Not the same level of problem, if I understand things correction. Kindly correct me if I am off base. I could be.

You have it correct.

I have always been quite surprised that the blade grinding, as far as straightness of the edge is concerned, has always been straight as a (double) arrow. The blade outline, and heels vary quite a bit from razor to razor, and the tangs don't always line up with teh body of the blade. Bu that is fixable. A bent blade is not fixable, as far as I know.

 

[kopio]

So....where do you find these things by the hundreds?

I mean, if you were interested in actually making an order from China.

I know I have seen a link for the old Double Arrows, how about the new Gold Dollars...same place?

 

[r0ckrat]

My GD 66 finally arrived from Mr.Parko... I'm going to hone it and see how it shaves. Seems to be straight enough, although the black plastic scales are definitely going to go away soon.

 

[r0ckrat]

Never mind. The grind was extremely off center, so I'm looking into getting it exchanged.

 

[davecmu]

Um, well, you can always buy them through Kenrup, if that's what you mean by "unloosing".....

I took that to mean "tightening back up" the release of the Gold Dollar.

In a way, this could work. Like how some companies (read: automotive companies) will only release a limited number of their high performance vehicles in order to spend the time necessary (read: charge the funds necessary and then some) to create a truly great machine. Maybe Gold Dollar is doing the same: do away with the $15/case price point, limit total production, and raise standards.

Of course, it could be the Guinness talking, too. I'm not sure. Happy Friday!

 

[kenrup]

I finally got my hands on some 200 and 208 models. The blades are more refined then the 84 model. Its the same steel just better finished and looks like better quality control. They still use the same lame pins but at the price we get them, I don't mind re-pining a few now and then. I wholeheartedly agree with Seraphim, that tangs are sometimes very bent but unless that causes a miss alignment with closing, I leave them alone. Its the miss matched pivot holes on the 84s that bothers me. I sue do like how they hone up.

 

[Jooky]

I finally got my hands on some 200 and 208 models. The blades are more refined then the 84 model. Its the same steel just better finished and looks like better quality control. They still use the same lame pins but at the price we get them, I don't mind re-pining a few now and then. I wholeheartedly agree with Seraphim, that tangs are sometimes very bent but unless that causes a miss alignment with closing, I leave them alone. Its the miss matched pivot holes on the 84s that bothers me. I sue do like how they hone up.

I wish I would have known about these a few days ago. I just ordered one of your gold dollar combos Monday or Tuesday. If I had seen these I would have ordered one of the 208s and the Filly Strop separately! It seems like I am always late to the party.

 

[leighton]

I've always been an advocate of "you get what you pay for with DAs." And so far I see no reason to change my position. GD, DA, they're all made in China, always figured they were from the same factory.

 

[kenrup]

I wish I would have known about these a few days ago. I just ordered one of your gold dollar combos Monday or Tuesday. If I had seen these I would have ordered one of the 208s and the Filly Strop separately! It seems like I am always late to the party.

Sorry about that. I just got them in. My order was delayed four weeks as they had to make the 84s. I guess next year I'll be sure and get my Christmas stock set in October.